The rehabber.

Groovy

Suspended Ceilings Scale Decorative Heights

February 07, 1997|By Bernard Gladstone, New York Times Special Features.

Q--I want to install a suspended ceiling in our family room, but I would like to avoid the "commercial" or "institutional" look that most seem to have.

I prefer a more decorative finish, where the panels seem to protrude down slightly below the aluminum grid that supports them. I want a series of grooves or recessed channels between the individual panels with the metal runners hardly visible. How can I create this effect on my ceiling?

A--Ceiling panels come in a wide range of decorative finishes that are quite attractive for home use. Most have a square edge that rests on top of the T-shaped runners, but some companies make panels with a flanged edge.

This flange rests on top of the runner so that the face or underside of the panel sticks down below the runner, thus creating a series of channels or grooves in the face of the finished ceiling with the metal runners barely visible.

Q--When our hot air furnace comes on, there is a banging noise in our ducts. What causes this? What we can do to correct it?

A--The noise is most likely due to expansion of the metal ducts as they heat up. This can often be eliminated, or at least minimized, by the installation of bellows-type expandable "sleeves" between each length of duct.

The noise can also be caused by ducts banging or rubbing against beams or joists as they expand or contract. Hanger straps and supports need to be properly spaced and they should be designed and installed to allow for lengthwise heat expansion of the ducts without the "popping" or "banging" noise that you're hearing.

Q--The hood over our gas kitchen range is about 15 years old. The paint on it is getting soft on top and can be scratched off with a fingernail. Can I remove the paint and repaint it to make it look better?

A--Stove hoods get quite hot when the burners are in use, eyspecially over gas stoves. Apparently, the paint used on your hood was not completely heat-resistant, or perhaps the paint is simply breaking down after all these years.

You can remove this paint with a heavy-duty semi-paste paint remover, following directions on the package. Then you can repaint with a heat-resistant paint.

Q--The finish on my 30-year-old bathtub is badly worn. I don't want to replace the tub so I seem to have two choices: I can have a fiberglass liner installed or have the tub professionally refinished with an enamel-like coating that will be chemically bonded to the old surface.

Which would be the most durable and stay the whitest? Also, would a fiberglass liner make a hollow sound when thumped?

A--I have heard mixed reports from readers who have had tubs refinished by one of these services--usually with some type of epoxy coating.

Some people report excellent results that last for years. Others complain about the lack of durability and some flaking after awhile.

As far as fiberglass liners are concerned: These last about the same as a regular fiberglass tub and have the same ability to withstand a reasonable amount of scrubbing, but you should never use abrasive cleaners on them.

Before making up your mind I would suggest that in both cases you ask to see some completed installations and talk to several past customers about their experiences.

Also, as with any other contractor, it's wise to call the local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints on file.

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Have a question about home repair problems? Write to Bernard Gladstone in care of Your Place, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Sorry, letters cannot be answered personally.